Volunteers Needed for a UH Tradition

HOUSTON, Aug. 2, 2011 – Cougar First Impressions (CFI), a UH tradition, is still in need of volunteers for this year's event, which will be held on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 22 and 23. Help is still needed for the last three shifts (11 a.m. - 1 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.), but the early shifts (7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.) are full. To volunteer, go to the CFI volunteer page at http://www.uh.edu/sc//cfi/volunteer.html. A paper volunteer application can also be downloaded at this site. Join other UH staff and faculty members and become a part of this important University of Houston tradition!

A large campus like the University of Houston can be overwhelming to students. CFI's goal is to make those first two days easier and friendlier. Its ultimate objectives are to create a sense of community on campus among students, staff and faculty and to increase student retention rates by making students feel welcome. CFI volunteers regularly get to hear comments like, "This is the best thing that’s happened to me today!"; "You guys are the best!" and "You people make it worthwhile to come to class the first two days." Last year, more than 500 volunteers answered more than 20,000 questions; distributed 24,000 bottles of water; gave out 10,000 frozen treats and collected more than $22,000 in cash and in-kind donations from the UH community.

Cougar First Impressions is receiving wider community recognition by becoming listed as a UH tradition in Wikipedia under the University of Houston (UH) entry. CFI is one of seven UH traditions identified in the University of Houston segment of Wikipedia (the other six are the UH seal, the cougar, the cougar paw, Frontier Fiesta, the Frontiersmen and the Blaze). Now entering its fourteenth year, CFI is held the first two days of the Fall semester to welcome students to campus. Staff and faculty volunteers will provide directions, water, information, ice cream and give-aways at nineteen tables located all over campus. CFI is sponsored by Staff Council and does not receive student fees; everything is donated.